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Why do we think of media figures as friends? Explore the amazing phenomenon of virtual relationships!
In today's rapidly digitized society, media are more than just sources of information. They have also drawn a new map of human emotions, social interactions, and relationships. It is becoming easier for us to trust characters who only appear on the screen as if they were vital friends in our lives. This phenomenon is called Parasocial Interaction (PSI), and it reveals the subtle spiritual connection between us and media artists.
Parasocial interaction is a mental relationship, the psychological process that an audience goes through when they come into contact with a media performer. This concept was proposed as early as 1956 by Horton and Wohl, who noted that audiences' emotions toward media figures appear to be indistinguishable from real social interactions. Through constant exposure, the relationship between the audience and media figures takes root, forming a so-called "Parasocial Relationship" (PSR).
The way media figures appear and the information they convey jointly affect the emotions and behavior of the audience.
With the rise of social media, this form of one-to-many interaction has become even more intimate. Through humorous tweets, Instagram pictures, or YouTube clips, viewers can "interact" with the characters they admire, and a relationship like a friend slowly takes shape. Social media not only increases the frequency of such interactions, it is also a powerful facilitator of strengthening the conscious connection between audiences and media figures.
Social media provides unlimited possibilities for parasocial relationships, because it is no longer a one-way release on one side of the channel, but a two-way emotional investment.
It is worth noting that the development of these relationships is closely related to the personal performance of media figures. Many studies point to the level of approachability, self-disclosure, and trust displayed by media figures as key factors in influencing audiences' emotional engagement. These constant positive messages make viewers willing to establish emotional connections with these "virtual friends".
According to research by psychologists, parasocial interaction helps analyze the audience’s social relationship needs. In some cases, these virtual relationships may even replace actual social interactions, especially for those who have difficulties with interpersonal communication in real life, and media characters become a kind of safe haven.
Many people find that one-way interactions with media figures sometimes provide comfort and support rather than feelings of social stress or anxiety.
However, the existence of this virtual relationship also raises some psychological issues. As more and more teenagers and children in society form emotional bonds with media characters, psychologists are beginning to focus on how these one-way relationships affect their identities and self-image. Under the strong influence of visual culture, teenagers have invisible comparative pressure on the depicted perfect life and standard image.
Research points out that such situations may lead to negative consequences such as low self-esteem and problems with self-imitation, because viewers will compare themselves to unrealistic expectations, which in turn affects their emotional and behavioral states. Some studies even show that strong reliance on media characters may make teenagers feel more lonely in real relationships because their attention and emotions are too focused on those "friends" who cannot respond.
Despite the positive and negative effects of the virtual world created by media characters, this phenomenon is still undeniable: parasocial relationships in today's society have become another mirror for us to understand ourselves and society. These media characters are not only tools for entertainment, but also an important force that affects our lives, and can even trigger deep emotional resonance.
In an unreal world filled with media, how should we view and manage these friend-like relationships with virtual characters?
